The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-02-25
BAD BETTE BENNETT.

going to tell you about Bette Bennett.
At least the real fact Of the case is
that it is all very immoral. But
that's neither here nor there.
had been watching the play some
time-I, generally looked upon by the
fortunate others as an old maiden
lady probably without experience,
and certainly without hope. The
play went on at the seaside; serious
play, for the stakes were high. high as
when some Old Eastern potentate
risks his lovely Circassiun girl, body
and soul, to his antagonist. The
players were not Eastern potentates,
but all the same, lovely girls, body
and soul, were the stakes. [
used to think Of it when saw Laura
6tockwood, that stately beauty, and
Leannette Dean, the dashing one, and
Caro-, and Elsa, and Edith, and the
rest. And among the rest could one
forget Bette Bennett? She was not a
person to allow hergelf to be forgot
ten.
And yet you did o understand
what 1t all meant, this Juror about
her. She was not a beauty; she had
no accomplishments to speak Of; she
was not an heiress. But she had every
thing her own a the summer
through. Ityou had to describe her
you would say she was a dark and
slender little person, with arch ways
and the gayest laugh in the world:
and that would be all there vas
about it. All there was about it?
0, not in the least, In the first place
there was the readiest wit, the great
est good-nature, the most perfect
grace. In the next place, there were
the most wonderful toilets.
"WeIl," | said to her, after a week
or so, as she rested by me a moment,
sit must cost all of a fortune to dress
you. don't see where you get it,"
$50 it does" she said, with encour-
aging frankness. "Take my toilets,
and gloves, and boots, and fOlderols,
and all, and the interest Of it would
take care Of one poor person for life.
Isn't it wicked?" and she looked at
me with irresistible drOllery.
Eyes, | think it is ," said |. For |
he'd known Miss Bette of old, and
knew that if she got through this sum,
mer alive she wouldn't have m pen
ny left.
"And the worst Of it is" continued
she, that when you think you have
enough for a queen you find you've
only made a start, and have to keep
ordering more Pelisser and from Bob
binet and the others. 1t won't do to
be suspected of any tarnish. You
must de fresh or nothing. Why, Pm
IN debt up to my eyes!"
BETTE, l don't know what you
can think of yourself" l said, in con
sternation. "You have nothing to
pay with. It's dishonest-it's-it's
swindling."
"No it isn't. It's business. If |
carry out my plans my pin.money
next year will pay my bad debts"
~And if you don't"
"Well, then they can have the things
Back"
a'Bettie"
'sPo look out for that is more
trouble than | can take, with all the
sest that l have. I'm in for it. And
Rve got to be a success"
"Bettie, if people knew about you,
you'd be anything but q success"
81 don't intend they shall. And it's
o pity if / can't trust you"
"You can-you cam. | don't APP
prove of you. If you were content to
sit still, as ] do, in one or two gowns,
and see the show go by"
aAnd let somebody else marry Mr..
Dunrobin! No, thank you. I'm not
content. But | shouldn't have gone
into this extravagance-it makes my
very soul ache to see those gowns-ifI
we're not obliged to be all the time on
evidence"
81 don't really see the need of that
II do. If you're to be a success.
And | didn't come here to go home
again. And / came here not only to
sule this summer, but tohave my rule
remembered in all summers to come"
noble ambitionl"
1T isn't ambition, / tell you; it's
Business
But, Bette. you're not q beauty.
$50 much the more to my glory"
you ridiculous midget
4sShe's little butshe' s shreWd.' And
Oh she sped as young Pennycastle
came along for an hour at tennis; and
saw her coming back in time sur-
rounded by an awkward squad OF